CALNE Town chief Simon Gardner was handed the perfect birthday present on Boxing Day as his team brought the curtain down on 2014 by claiming the derby spoils against Devizes Town.

A single goal from Stuart Windsor was enough for the Lilywhites to take all three points at Nursteed Road and make it four wins from five matches in the Toolstation League First Division in December.

Gardner was also pleasantly surprised as his side’s post-Christmas clash surpassed expectations.

“Back when I played for Calne, game son Boxing Day were always a bit of a non-event because of people eating and drinking too much the day before but even though it was an early kick-off, everyone turned up in good spirits and we had a bit of a laugh before the game,” said the Lilywhites boss.

“It was a good game. Devizes started well and we had to deal with that but we eventually came into it and did enough to win the match. It was a great birthday present for me.”

Calne keeper Steve Allison pushed Robbie Mitchell’s effort onto the post before the hosts’ Aaron Hopkins intercepted a loose ball and set up Windsor to slot home the only goal of the game.

Manager Gardner also praised his match-winner, who took his tally to four goals in three games. He said: “Stu has been on fire. In the past, he’s been in and out with hamstring injuries and things like that but he’s fit and firing now.

“He said to me that he’s lost 9lbs this year through playing regularly – I wish I could say that was down to my strict diet regime at Calne Town.”

Defeat brought Devizes’ seven-match unbeaten run in the league to an end and joint-boss Justin Webster is hoping that his side can get back to winning ways when they go to Warminster Town next Saturday.

“It was quite an even game and I think the disappointing thing is that we won a free-kick and then chose to play a short one rather than putting it into their box. They’ve pounced on it and to be fair to their lad, it was a good finish but it was of our own making,” he said.

“That was the only thing to separate the two sides, so it was disappointing from that point of view.

“If you look at the form table for November and December, we were sixth - it’s been a good end to the year and it’s just a shame that we ended it with a result like this.

“But we got to Warminster next weekend and they’re in the bottom four so hopefully we can go out and get three points there.”

MORE FOOTBAL NEWS, PICTURES AND REACTION IN THIS THURSDAY'S GAZETTE AND HERALD. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport